Pressure Garment Technician

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Band 4 Pressure Garment Technician to join our long established Pressure Garment Service at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust. This post is full time, however, applications will be considered for a minimum of 30 hours per week.

We are looking for a skilled individual to work as part of a dynamic multidisciplinary team, supporting the rehabilitation of patients across our Burns, Plastics, Hands and Rheumatology Therapy Services. This is a varied and rewarding role where you will contribute directly to patient recovery and long term scar management.

Our Pressure Garment Service receives referrals from Burns inpatients and outpatients, Plastic Surgery dressing clinics, Consultant and scar management clinics, Hand Therapy and Rheumatology teams.

The successful candidate will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of therapists to manage a busy and varied caseload. You will be primarily responsible for producing, adapting and adjusting bespoke pressure garments to a high standard for a wide range of patient needs.

Strong garment making skills and confident use of a sewing machine are essential for this role. Applicants should demonstrate good clinical reasoning, excellent organisational abilities and a commitment to high quality clinical practice. Flexibility in working patterns and a willingness to maintain consistently high standards are also desirable.

Main duties of the job

To design and construct a comprehensive range of simple and complex, functional, and wearable custom-made garments for patients using the Burns, Hand Therapy, Plastic Surgery and Rheumatology services. The service is also provided to other Trusts.

To provide support and assistance to Technical Instructors, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists requesting custom-made garments as a treatment for these patients.

Provide technical support and advice to other specialities such as Maxillofacial, Oncology and Spinals when required.

• Maintain a high standard of technical expertise across a broad range of custom-made garments using specialist knowledge of current techniques and innovations as appropriate.
• To understand anatomy, physiology and conditions relating to the specialities requesting custom-made garments to recognise appropriate application of pressure, effects on scarring and use of adaptations.
• To understand pressure therapy and its clinical uses.
• To understand contraindications for treatment by custom-made garments and raise any concerns with the prescribing professional.
• Use mathematical and technical skills to design, calculate correct pressures and draft patterns, for garments that meet the needs of each individual patient. When doing this, ensure that:
• Patient compliance is maximised by considering the practicalities of wearing the garment.

Please see the job description and person specification for further details.

About us

We are an acute trust caring for over one million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff members work in patients homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield).Committed to continuous improvement, we prioritise our people and values so we can deliver excellent patient experience. Our team is friendly, passionate and always seeking better ways to work through research and innovation.

We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces for honest conversations and to share ideas, thoughts and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion.As a member of the team, you will have access to the NHS pension plan, a generous holiday allowance, employee health and wellbeing services and extensive benefits and support. These include onsite nurseries, childcare vouchers, home electronics schemes, working carers support, carer-friendly policies, and more.

If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.

Job responsibilities

Qualifications

• Obtained an educational level of GCSE level A-C English and Maths or equivalent.
• Minimum Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care/ 60 credits level 4 or have significant therapy/ inpatient experience already working in a similar health care role or significant experience in garment fabrication and pattern drafting.

Experience

• Substantial experience of constructing a wide range of garments
• Experience working as part of a team.
• Experience in supervising/inducting/supporting others at work.

Knowledge and awareness

• Evidence of competence in patient assessment skills.
• Awareness of own limitations.
• Evidence of specialist extended skills and competencies
• Evidence of regular updates and utilisation of specialist skills and competencies.
• Experience of supervising others, and allocating appropriate workloads.

Skills and Abilities

• Highly developed physical skills and a high degree of precision and dexterity in the drafting of patterns and construction of garments
• Able to manipulate machinery and components with a high degree of accuracy.
• Able to present information, written and orally in an accurate clear and logical manner.
• Able to elevate to a qualified member of staff any concerns regarding patient care or risk.
• Able to adhere to trust values & behaviours, and support others to do the same.
• Able to educate patients and colleagues within scope of role.
• Able to implement and evaluate treatment.
• Able to recognise when escalation to a registered professional is required.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload.
• Able to work autonomously.
• Ability to write accurately and legibly in patient notes.
• Able to work as part of team, and support others within the team.

Please see the job description and person specification for further details.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Please click 'apply now' to view the full person specification (there is no obligation to submit an application).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.